Stories by Texas Tribune fellows

Texas eased restrictions on visitation in long-term care facilities last week, but many families remain unsure if they will be allowed to visit. For those cut off from their loved ones for almost five months, isolation is becoming another very real threat. Full Story 

Gov. Greg Abbott said Austin officials' vote “puts the brave men and women of the Austin Police Department and their families at greater risk" — and vowed that the Texas Department of Public Safety will "stand in the gap." Full Story 

Public schools are about to become the next front line in a state struggling to control the coronavirus pandemic. Here's what it's like on the ground at four of them. Full Story 

Hartzell, dean of the University of Texas at Austin’s business school, has served as interim president since April after former president Greg Fenves stepped down after five years at the helm. Full Story 

The COVID-19 pandemic has clobbered the Texas economy and trade with Mexico, clouding the trade deal’s potential impacts, experts say. Full Story 

A maximum of 5,110 fans will be in attendance for the game Wednesday, which is happening as other major league sports continue to play in empty arenas. Full Story 

Economists said canceling football would be devastating to local businesses that rely on the huge influxes of cash from home games. Meanwhile, athletics officials weigh whether they can risk the health and welfare of student athletes. Full Story 

The order could face legal challenges, and Texas might have to chip in a quarter of the cost. State leaders have not said how they'll respond. Full Story 

Businesses that make up most of their sales with alcohol were closed down by Abbott's latest shutdown order, leaving them to maneuver through loopholes to reopen. Full Story 

The news comes as Texas resumes limited visitations in nursing homes and assisted-living facilities that meet certain requirements. Full Story 

Nursing homes remain hot spots for the virus, with 57% still reporting active cases. Limited visits will be allowed both indoors and outdoors at facilities where there are no cases among residents or staff. Full Story 

The university plans to test all of its campus residence hall students by the beginning of September. It will continue to identify individuals or groups on campus strategically to test those at a higher risk of disease spread and perform random testing. Full Story 

It’s hard to collect good numbers on an unknown virus, and Texas health officials have made errors. But experts say the state’s coronavirus data is useful as long as users understand its limitations. Full Story 

Daniel Perry has come forward as the shooter of Garrett Foster, a 28-year-old armed demonstrator who was killed while protesting police brutality in Austin last Saturday. Full Story 

Comments by police officials have raised concerns about whether the department is biased against the 28-year-old man who was killed, activists and an Austin City Council member say. Full Story 

The president does not have the legal authority to move Election Day; that power resides with Congress. Full Story 

Officials are unsure of the motive behind the unsolicited packets but suspect that they are part of an online scam. Full Story 

On Monday, the state released data on COVID-19 cases in Texas nursing homes after initially arguing that the information wasn't subject to public disclosure. Full Story 

The release of the video comes two days after armed protester Garrett Foster was shot and killed by an unnamed, armed driver while protesting police brutality in Austin. Full Story 

Gov. Greg Abbott cautioned that there will be continued threats of flash flooding even as rainfall slows. Full Story